Hospital bed



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HOSPITAL BED Filed Jan. 16, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet l .hllllllll u\ :,1 15M ?lilllli:A riill11-11-15 w n f w w r w l L i if .II ||.|-l. t s u n Q wf n mw n F .l mlli AWi-l|w||||HH1|||HMHMWMH1MM-IMHHHMIMMMM film 11111 i u Tg1/[S SALU@ 2.x Si ||l\| il :l: MUM Ilm [Lm fr f. E S1\ \L\. S :la mi L. ROBINSON HOSPITAL BED Oct. 12, 1965 4 Sheeis-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 16, 1965 L. ROBINSON HOSPITAL BED 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 16, 1963 l E lli Illl l f- Nw u, Hm r N @NQ Nm v Lm\ 2\ Ldl Wm. m E w Q z A @3j f N D dw m e V L E. \r ML E n n l lnmm l l :if 13 I1!! Oct. 12, 1965 l.. ROBINSON 3,210,778

HOSPITAL BED Filed Jan. 16, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. LUTHER ROBINSON.

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O 3,210,778 HSPITAL BED Luther Robinson, 509 Bellaire Ave., Pittsburgh 26, Pa. Filed Jan. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 251,949 7 Claims. (Cl. 5-61) The present invention relates to hospital beds and more specifically to .a n-ovel form of conventional .type open- ;sided bed with standard mattress which m-ay readily be converted into a bed having 4side rails for patient retention and a sling or hammock suspension of the patient, with the entire length .and weight thereof supported upon said mattress, whereby -r-ocking of the hammoc-k tassembly provides shifting of the patient [from back to side without physical effort upon the part of the patient or attendant.

The ybed of the invention is particularly adapted for patients who may be required to spend long periods of time in bed and, except for the invention, would be required .to lie upon their backs in substantially a single position. This, as is we'll known, causes very substantial .discomfort and pain to the patient by reason of muscular soreness and skin irritation referred to generally a-s bedsores.

Where possible, taking into .account the physical condition of the patient, sa nurse =or other lattendant may turn the patient from the back on-to the side in .an attempt to ease the back pains. Such movement `of the patient is not only laborious for the nurse 'or attendant, but frequently requires considerable physical effort on the part of the patient. Such physical effort is frequently forbidden by the attending physician for various medical reasons.

An lobject of the invention is to provide .a normally open-sided hospital bed having a iixed mattress with rocker mounted head and foot boards which may readily be converted into a rocking hammock Itype support for a patient whose weight is fully supported by the :bed mattress.

Another `object of the invention is to provide an opensided type hospital bed having any desired form of mattress with a four-point hammock type patient turning means for transferring the patient from upon the back to either side while being fully supported by the mattress and without physical effort on .the part of the patient or movement of the mattress.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bed of the type herein described which may .be converted from one form to the other without .adding or removing parts from the bed.

These and other -objects will be made apparent from the following specification and the drawing forming a part there-of, wherein:

FIG` 1 shows .a side elevation of the .bed of the invention;

F IG. 2 shows an end elevation of the bed;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the bed, and

FIG. 4 shows an end elevation of 4a portion of the bed with the cradle tilted 30.

Referring now in detail .to the drawing, a head .board 1 and foot board 2 are connect-ed by side rails 3 forming an integral unit. For convenience in m-oving the bed, suitable castors 4 are mounted on the head and foot boards. Adjacent the bottom tof the head and foot boards are connected longitudinally extending rails 5 and transverse r-ails 6 forming a rigid frame for a purpose hereinafter described. Supported upon the side mails 3 between suitable member-s 7 is a suitable mattress 8 .and spring.

The head and foot boards 1 land 2 .are `preferably similar in .construction but may be modified as desired. As shown, each head and foot board compri-ses vertically disposed side members 9 and 9a of rectangular cross- 3,210,778 Patented Oct. 12, 1965 Isection and preferably of hollow construction. Overly- -ing the members 9 and 9a at opposite faces thereof and connected thereto .are top lmembers 10. Beneath the members 10 in spa-ced relation thereto are members t1-1 connecting .the members 9 .and 9a at opposite faces thereof. Beneath the members 1|1 in vertical spaced relation thereto are members .A12 connecting the members 9 and 9a at opposite faces thereof. Adjacent the castors 4 and above the plane `of .the member 6 are members 13 attached .to opposite faces of the pairs .of members 9 and 9a. Disposed between the members 11, 12 and 13 at each end of the bed .and extending vertically 'adjacent each member 9 is a hollow .rectangular member `14tforming a part of the head and foot boards and serving as -a housing `for a chain drive for the hammock frame as hereinafter discussed. Adjacent each member 9a and .secured between the members 11 is a second housing 15 for said chain drive.

Disposed between the head and foot boards 1 and 2 land `outwardly of each end of the mattress 8 is a hammock frame comprised 'of rigid end members indicated generally .at |16 connected by members 17a and .1'7'b disposed in equal spaced .relation Iat .opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the hammock fname. 'Each .end member 16 is comprised of two spaced `generally rectangular plate-like members 16a .and 1.6317 having the upper portions of the ends thereof inwardly inclined as at .1-6c. The .adjacent upper edges 16d of members 16a and 16h are connected by member `18 and the adjacent inclined end edges 116C tare connected by members 19 providing -a hollow enclosure. Adjacent the bottom edges of members `.16a and .1f6b .the members .17a and y1*'7fb are provided lwith spacing sleeves 20 disposed between members 16a .and 16b and held in place by end members 2-1 secured to members 17a .and 17b upon the outer faces cf member .16. The members 17a and `17b are preferably metal rods recessed into the upper face `of mattress 8 .so as to not project thereabove. The opposite ends of members 17a land 17b, outwardly of members 21 have support upon the adjacent members 12. These members 17a 'and 17b are held against later-al displacement by any suitable means such .as vertically disposed members 22 .extending between and .attached to the members L1 and 12.

Forming part of the hammock and extending between the hammock end members 16 at each side of the longitudinal centerline of the bed are the longitudinally disposed members 23 and 24. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each hammock end member 16 has disposed between the members 16a and 16b thereof, outwardly of each member 17a and 17b, a trunnion member 25. Pivotally mounted at one end upon each trunnion 25 is an arm 26 which is of sutiicient length to extend out wardly thereof beyond the adjacent'outer side of the mattress S. The outer ends of the pair of members 26 at each side of the longitudinal centerline of the bed are connected to the member 23 extending longitudinally of the same side of the bed. Each such member 23 has pivotally mounted adjacent each end thereof a second member 27 extending therefrom to the member 24. Member 27 is adapted in one position to extend inwardly and upwardly in contact with rocker frame member 19 and in another position to depend from member 23 at one side of the bed. At vone end of each member 27 and extending outwardly therefrom is a pin 28 engageable with a suitable latch member 29. Latch member 29 is pivotally mounted at 30 upon member 16h and held in operative position by tension spring 31. Latch 29 has an inclined outer portion 32 engageable by pin 28 to depress the latch enabling pin 28 to engage the latch when member 27 is engaged with rocker portion 19.

As shown in FIG. 3 a tiexible member 34, of fabric or other suitable material, extends between hammock end members 16 so as to overlie the mattress 8 and has the opposite side edges thereof detachably connected with members 23. This member 34 is intended to underlie the customary sheet and other bed covering of the patient. When the member 27 is first latched in upright position, the member 34 has its mid-longitudinal portion disposed upon the mattress and positioned to receive the back of the patient upon the mattress 8. As the hammock frame members 16 alternately pivot about either trunnion support 17a and 17b the moving member 34 serves to roll the patient upon either side while the patient is receiving full longitudinal support upon member 34 and the mattress 8.

The actuating means for the hammock frame members 16 comprises a suitable low speed motor 35 equipped with a speed reducer 36 suitably mounted upon a platform support 37 secured to members 37a and 37b. Shaft 38 of the speed reducer 36 is connected by means of a suitable coupling 39 to a drive shaft 40 having its opposite end trunnioned in a suitable bearing 41 also mounted on support 37. Suitably mounted on shaft 40, for rotation therewith, is a pinion 42. Extending longitudinally of the bed, adjacent one side thereof is a shaft 43 having its opposite ends trunnioned in the adjacent members 14 of the bed. Intermediate its ends, the shaft 43 is rotatably supported upon spaced bearings 44, 45 mounted upon a suitable support 46 secured to the members 37a and 37b. Preferably shaft 43 has its intermediate portion 43a connected by suitable couplings 47 to the shaft end portions. Mounted upon shaft portions 43a for rotation therewith is a suitable pinion 48. A suitable continuous driving chain 49 is trained over pinions 42 and 48 effecting concurrent rotation of shafts 40 and 43. Mounted in fixed relation upon opposite ends of shaft 43 and within the members 14 at each end of the bed are suitable pinions 49a. Adjacent the top of each such members 14 are a pair of pinions 50, 51. Within each member at opposite ends of the bed are mounted pinions 52 upon suitable shafts 53 journaled in each member 15. At the longitudinal center line of the members 16 and adjacent the top thereof at each end of the bed is mounted a fixed member 54 extending outwardly from each member 16. A driving chain 55 is trained over pinions 49a, 50', 51 and 52 at each end of the hammock frame members 16. The adjacent ends of each chain 55 are connected by a plate 56 and the opening 57 in each of said plates 56 is engaged with member 54.

The bed, as shown in the drawing, is prepared for occupancy by depressing latches 29 at each side of the bed and lowering member 24 until member 26 engages and is supported in substantially horizontal position upon member 58. The members 27 will depend. therefrom at each side of the bed. The exible member 34, if not already in place, may be laid upon the upper surface of mattress 8 and attached at each side to members 23. The bed can then be prepared with the usual and customary covering materials, such as sheets, pads, blankets, etc. Preferably the pillow will also be placed within member 34.

The bed, thus prepared, except for the depending members 27 presents the appearance of the customary bed which may be entered from either side. Additionally, the entire area over the patient is now open for performance of all necessary nursing services.

`Assuming the patient is lying upon the back and it is desired to rotate the patient upon the right side, the members 26 and 27 are lifted upwardly and latched over the latches 29 at each side of the bed. This position of the mechanism is shown in full lines on FIG. 2. The hammock member 34 will be in the position shown by dot and dash lines on FIG. 2 and identified by the reference characters 34 at each side and beneath the position of the patient as indicated at P.

The motor 35 is then suitably actuated to tilt the interconnected hammock frame members 16 to the right upon the pivotal supporting members 17b of each member 16. An angle of tilt or rotation of between 25 and 30 from the horizontal is sufficient. Referring to FIG. 4 of the drawing illustrating the tilting of the members 16, the members 23 and 26 at the right side of the bed begin to move downwardly and the similar members 23 and 26 at the left side of the bed begin to move upwardly from the position indicated in dot and dash lines which correspond to FIG. 2. By reason of the mattress 8 remaining in a xed position and the patient thereon remaining in a horizontal plane, the hammock portion 34 at the left side of the bed in moving upwardly, with the member 23, imparts a lifting movement to the left side of the patient. By reason of the patient lying upon the member 34, this member pulling taut, with continued tilting of frame member 16, engages with the entire width of the back of the patient. Thus this portion of 34 imparts both a lifting and a supporting of the left side and back of the patient throughout the entire length of the body. At the right side of the bed, the portion 34a of the hammock begins to move downwardly away from the right side of the patient. This continued movement of both sides of hammock member 34 continues until the longitudinal members 23 at opposite sides of the bed, each move through any preselected arc of say 30. At the left side of the bed, as viewed in FIG. 4, the portion 34 of the hammock at the end of the 30 movement assumes the position indicated at 34' and the portion 34a of the hammock assumes the position indicated at 34a. During this described movement of the hammock, the patient has remained supported upon the fixed horizontal plane of the mattress 8 and has rolled about the right side into the position P. During movement of the patient from position P to P', the back of the patient receives continuous support from hammock portion 34. It will be apparent from FIG. 4 that the patient in position P now supports the greater portion of his weight upon his right side engaged with the mattress and only a minor portion of his weight against the hammock portion 34.

During the above described movement of patient P, the portion 34a of the hammock extends upwardly in front of him providing a substantial measure of assurance that he is in no danger of falling out of bed. Additional reassurance to the patient reults from the fixed supporting surface of the mattress.

It will be understood that the angle through which the hammock frame tilts may be greater or less than 30 from the horizontal. It has been observed that an angle of tilt between 25 and 30 has little or no tendency to cause the patient to roll away from the supporting hammock portion 34. The rate of tilting is preferably very slow, requiring one to two minutes from normal to tilted position.

Any suitable electrical control circuit may be provided for the motor 35. The minimum number of selective positions of the hammock 34 would be normal position with the entire back of the patient supported upon the mattress and limited tilting to the right or left to an angle of 25 to 30. The tilting hammock frame would stop in the selected angle of tilt and not return to normal position until the circuit was suitably actuated for this purpose. Preferably the hammock frame 16-16 in returning from tilted position would stop at the aforesaid normal position. Starting and stopping tilting of frame 1.6- 16 may be accomplished by many well known devices which form no part of the present invention and for this reason have not been illustrated.

Obvious changes will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and may be accomplished without departing from the invention described and claimed herein. Although the members 27 and connecting member 24 may be omitted and a suitable latch provided to hold members 23 in elevated position, the use of members 24 is encouraged. Such members afford assurance to the patient when the hammock frame is in tilted position.

The outer faces of the head and foot boards have been left open to better illustrate the mechanism and its mode of operation. Preferably both the inner and outer faces of the head and foot boards will be closed by removable continuous plates to prevent injury to the hands and fingers of attendants.

Throughout the specitication the mechanism has been described as being motor driven, it will be obvious that the bed may be rocked by any suitable means including hydraulic or manual means, if desired, without departing from the spirit of the invention disclosed and claimed herein.

I claim:

1. A hospital bed comprising,

a mattress supporting frame means,

a mattress mounted thereon,

hammock frame means at each end of the mattress supporting frame means and extending thereabove,

transversely spaced trunnions on said hammock frame means engaging said mattress supporting means outwardly of each end of the mattress for limited transverse pivotal movement relative thereto,

a ilexible hammock member disposed upon said mattress for substantially the longitudinal length thereof and extending transversely thereof,

rigid means attached to said flexible hammock member at each side thereof and extending transversely between said hammock frame means disposed at each end of the mattress, and

means pivotally connected to said hammock frame means and to each end of the said hammock rigid means for selectively securing the sides of the flexible hammock member to the hammock frame means above the horizontal plane of the mattress for rolling a patient within the hammock from side to side while fully supported by said mattress as the hammock frame means is rocked upon its spaced trunnions and relative to the mattress.

2. The bed as defined in claim 1, wherein means are mounted upon said mattress supporting frame for selectively rocking said hammock frame means upon its supporting trunnions.

3. In a hospital bed, in combination a rigid frame having head and foot boards connected by side rails,

hammock frame means disposed between said head and foot boards,

transversely spaced means on said hammock frame means engaging the adjacent respective head and foot boards and supporting the hammock frame thereon for selective pivotal movement towards each side of said head and foot boards,

a patient supporting mattress mounted on said side rails within and in spaced relation to said hammock frame,

means pivotally mounted upon the hammock frame means outwardly of each pivotal support therefor and extending outwardly beyond the adjacent side of the said frame means,l

rigid means extending longitudinally of said mattress and connecting said outer ends of said pivotally mounted means at each side of the hammock frame,

a flexible patient receiving hammock supported upon said mattress and connected to each said rigid means,

means for selectively securing said hammock connected rigid means to said hammock frame at each side thereof and above the horizontal plane of said mattress, and

means for selectively imparting limited rocking movement to said hammock frame relative to said mattress and upon said transversely spaced means.

4. Apparatus for turning a patient from a reclining position upon the back to a position upon either side thereof while supported solely and wholly by the bed mattress and without physical effort by the patient, comprising a flexible hammock member disposed beneath the patient and extending transversely and longitudinally of the mattress,

a hammock frame member disposed outwardly of each end of the mattress,

trunnion means on each said frame members at each side of the longitudinal center line through said mattress and supporting the frame member for selective pivotal movement adjacent the plane of the top of said mattress,

means connecting said frame members for moving as a unit upon their respective trunnion means,

means extending longitudinally of and connected with said flexible hammock at each side thereof and with the adjacent side of each said hammock frame members for suspending the sides of the hammock upon the hammock frame above the plane of the top of the mattress.

5. A hospital bed comprising a fixed mattress supporting frame,

a mattress mounted in xed relation upon said supporting frame,

a hammock supporting frame enclosing the opposite end portions of said mattress,

trunnion members secured in transverse spaced relation upon said hammock supporting frame and releasably engaging said mattress supporting frame,

a flexible hammock member overlying said mattress with its side portions secured to said hammock frame above said mattress and its intermediate portion engaging the mattress to receive a patient lying thereon and supported wholly by said mattress, and

means for selectively rocking said hammock supporting frame upon one or the other of said trunnions at each end of the mattress.

6. A hospital bed comprising head and foot boards connected by side rails,

a hammock frame disposed above said side rails and supported upon transversely spaced trunnions engaging the head and foot boards,

a mattress disposed Within said hammock frame and supported upon said side rails independently of said frame,

a hammock mounted on said frame and overlying said mattress for receiving a patient thereon to be continuously supported upon said mattress, and

means for selectively rocking said hammock frame towards opposite sides of the bed upon said trunnions.

7. The hospital bed as dened in claim 6 wherein mounting of said hammock upon said frame comprised,

a hinged member pivotally connected at one end to the hammock frame adjacent each trunnion and extending outwardly therefrom towards the adjacent side of the bed with the member hinge disposed beyond the bed side rail,

means extending longitudinally at each side of the bed and connecting the adjacent free ends of said hinged members,

means connecting each side edge of said hammock to said first means, and

latch members mounted on said hammock frame at each end thereof above the plane of said mattress for engaging and retaining said longitudinal means when elevated into engagement with said latches.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 728,865 5/03 Cheetharn 5-61 2,100,663 ll/37 Maddox 5-85 X 2,113,286 4/38 White 5--61 2,499,101 2/50 Kluglein 5-61 3,013,281 12/61 Steiner 5-62 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A HOSPITAL BED COMPRISING, A MATTRESS SUPPORTING FRAME MEANS, A MATTRESS MOUNTED THEREON, HAMMOCK FRAME MEANS AT EACH END OF THE MATTRESS SUPPORTING FRAME MEANS AND EXTENDING THEREABOVE, TRANSVERSELY SPACED TRUNNIONS ON SAID HAMMOCK FRAME MEANS ENGAGING SAID MATTRESS SUPPORTING MEANS OUTWARDLY OF EACH END OF THE MATTRESS FOR LIMITED TRANSVERSE PIVOTAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO, A FLEXIBLE HAMMOCK MEMBER DISPOSED UPON SAID MATTRESS FOR SUBSTANTIALLY THE LONGITUDINAL LENGHT THEREOF AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THEREOF, RIGID MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID FLEXIBLE HAMMOCK MEMBER AT EACH SIDE THEREOF AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY BETWEEN SAID HAMMOCK FRAME MEANS DISPOSED AT EACH END OF THE MATTRESS, AND MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID HAMMOCK FRAME MEANS AND TO EACH END OF THE SAID HAMMOCK RIGID MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY SECURING THE SIDES OF THE FLEXIBLE HAMMOCK MEMBER TO THE HAMMOCK FRAME MEANS 